To 10 speed to 13 speed or not?

So my truck came with a EF 10speed transmission and has never been opened up. Currently sitting at 1.023mm. I plan on keeping the truck a long while.

So would it be a good decision to drop in a reman 13speed. Or stick with the trusty 10speed.

I talked to a shop and said they would do the swap for 8k. Plan on talking to other shops in Socal as well.

Opinions please.

 

How much is a reman 10spd? Kind of hard to make the decision not knowing the cost of the two.

Extra gears are always nice. My next truck will have an 18. You don’t have to use them all on normal driving but they are there if you need them.

 

Depends on your application I guess. I have always ran 13 and my favorite, 18 speeds. Personally I hate a 10 speed, just not good for what I do, local, regional work. I would probably like an automatic but the thought of driving in the snow and ice with one keeps me away. And I have seen these things at the docks, no control, or little control in reverse.

 

Why 13?

I love 18s and those get ordered for the trucks unless they are autoshift trans.

 

The 18 is the way to go in my book. When I'm heavy, it is nice to have all of those choices. I have only had one 13 speed in my Volvo, I'll take the 18 over that any day of the week.

 

My opinion: if it ain't broke, don't fix it (you didn't say it's broke)

If it is on its way out, a 13 is nice. 18 is nicer. Cost a bit more, may or may not really need it. If you have a fast rear end the 18 would probably be the better choice. If you have something say 3.55 or slower a 13 is fine. (With 22.5 tires)
Do you have one of those direct drive 10 speeds with a fast rear end, maybe 2.47?

 

Years ago, (zzzz,,,WAKE UP) ahem, years ago, when anemic motors like the Detroit ring-dings, with such a narrow power band ( 1900-2100) it was important to keep the rev's there, or it would drop like a stone. That's when the 13 speed Road Ranger was introduced. Today, with motors in the 4-500 hp range and low rpms, there's really no need for a 13 speed today. ( unless it makes you feel like a super trucker grabbing gears, believe me, after 35 years, it gets mighty old) It will be a rainy day in the high plains before I drove a truck with an automatic, but the 10 ( or 9) speed is the way to go. Lot more durable ( can't tell you how many 13's I drove that wouldn't shift right)but even the worst truck molester couldn't kill a 10 speed.

 

Never drove a 18 speed. Did drive one of those funky IH 15 speeds, L-M-H. You could always tell when someone thought that was a 13.

 

Gotta ♡ that High & over Reverse. Lol